₦airaland Forum

There is nothing to game about,maybe they are trying to game their efficiencies,its just an exercise in futility,the NPF is just telling us to go back to God for protection since they have been failing woefully in that regard..it is very clear that the NPF needs a total overhauling

It makes the political arena more interesting...

I just pray that Boko Haram wil not be part of the alliance cos i smell rat somewhere....

And yet he is still a force to reckon with, that's the beauty of Nigerian politics....

Jonathan Didn’t Sign Agreement – Yakassai
 

The mystery over President Goodluck Jonathan’s alleged agreement with northern governors of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2011 not to contest the 2015 presidential election deepened, yesterday.

Former Senate Whip, Senator Kanti Bello, has accused the Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, of telling a lie over his claim that President Goodluck Jonathan agreed to a single term in 2011.

Bello said, as a principal officer of the Senate in 2011, he attended a meeting of governors and lawmakers where the issue of Jonathan’s single term was raised.

The former Senate Whip told our one of correspondents in a telephone interview on Sunday that he personally raised the matter during the said meeting and that Jonathan did not make any promise of serving just one term.

Aliyu had in an interview aired on Liberty Radio, Kaduna, claimed that President Jonathan had agreed to serve for only one term of four years beginning from 2011.

But Bello, a former member of the Peoples Democratic Party, who defected to the Congress for Progressive Change, dismissed Aliyu’s claims.

Bello said, “He (Aliyu) is being economical with the truth. You see, I will explain clearly what happened.

“When we were having a meeting, then I was in PDP, we were there at the National Headquarters of the Party, we the principal officers of the Senate, governors and some members of the National Working Committee of the Party.

“A discussion arose and President Jonathan complained about the sequence of elections and lack of support as an executive President and member of our party.

“Then, finally I raised the issue that it is not a question of election, you want to run but since you want to run, some of us feel what you want to do is unconstitutional but since a decision has been taken and a primary has taken place, the majority of the people say run so democratically, there is nothing anybody can do since there has been a convention and nobody objected at the convention about your running.

“ I asked him, what are we going to take in return to our people, what do we tell them? Even if we want to convince our people, we have to take something to them, can you please confirm to us here and now that you are only going to run for one term?

“To be fair to Jonathan, he did not utter a word. You get it clear? He didn’t say a word, he kept quiet and that is where we stopped.

“But later, Governor (Shehu) Shema of Katsina State, and his friends, out of mischief, went and wrote a communiqué that Jonathan was running for only one term. He didn’t say it, but they wrote a communique, I challenge anybody to say that was not what happened.

“You cannot say based on that you have an agreement with Jonathan, you cannot say it. Writing a communiqué on behalf of somebody who didn’t utter a word, I cannot see it as an agreement. That was exactly what happened.

“The governor under Shema, particularly Shema being the one who is a lawyer, thinks he is smart. He was the one who wrote the communiqué and gave it to the press, that this is the communiqué of our meeting but to be fair to Jonathan, he didn’t utter a word and it was me who asked that question with Governor Danjuma Goje there at that time.

“He was the one who was even saying Mr. President, we are with you but I was the one who bluntly asked him if he was going to run so that we can go and tell our people.”

When contacted, Shema said comments made by Bello about events preceding the 2011 presidential elections should be taken “with a pinch of salt.”

The Katsina State governor spoke to one of our correspondents through his Chief Press Secretary, Malam Lawal Matazu, via a telephone interview on Sunday.

He said, “The issues leading to the 2011 elections are normal democratic procedures that always involve constructive engagement, dialogue, consensus and internal democracy of political parties.

“Kanti Bello was a loser in that election, therefore anything he said today, after having left the PDP (the party that defeated him) and joined the CPC, should be taken with a pinch of salt given his widely known antecedents of misleading the public on critical national political issues.”

The governor was, however, non-committal when asked whether the said agreement existed and if there was a document to back such a claim.

Calls to the mobile telephone number of Senator Danjuma Goje who attended the meeting as governor in 2011, were not answered. He also did not reply a text message sent to him on the subject.

But a former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, said that the issue of second term bid by Jonathan was not raised in meetings held before the 2011 general election that produced him as the president.

Folarin, who represented Oyo Central senatorial district on the platform of the PDP, told our correspondent in a telephone interview on Sunday that the major issue discussed at the caucus meeting that produced Jonathan as the party’s candidate was mainly on 2011 and not second term bid.

He said, “I was at the meeting held on President Jonathan’s ambition to run in 2011 election. That was the focus. Honestly, I cannot recollect any discussion or issue raised about whether he would recontest or not.

“The issue of second term was not our preoccupation at the time. I don’t remember us raising the issue or asking President Jonathan whether he would seek re-election or not. 2015 was not an issue of interest to party stakeholders before his (Jonathan’s) emergence in 2011 I must confess to you.”

A Presidency source also challenged those making such claims to produce the said document if indeed it exists.

Meanwhile, Alhaji Tanko Yakassi, one of the leading members of the Northern Political Leaders Forum, NPLF, told Vanguard, yesterday, that an attempt by the forum to get the president to concede the 2015 presidential ticket to the north failed after two meetings.

Yakassi’s assertion, nonetheless, other northern opinion leaders, yesterday, pointed to President Olusegun Obasanjo’s claim on the final day of PDP campaigns where he was quoted as saying that President Jonathan would serve one term.

President’s supporters disparage claims

Supporters of the president last night disparaged the claims. Mr. Joe Ambakaderemo, national coordinator of South-South Elements Progressive Union, SSEPU, described the existence of the agreement as inconceivable, outlandish and myopic, saying Aliyu should wait till 2019 to realise his ambition.

Governor Aliyu had, in a radio interview on Saturday, claimed that the president reached an agreement not to contest the 2015 presidential election.

He said: “I recall that at the time he was going to declare for the 2011 election, all PDP governors were brought together to ensure that we were all in the same frame of mind.

“And I recall that some of us said that,  given the circumstances of the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua and given the PDP zoning arrangement, it was expected that the North was to produce the president for a given number of years.

“I recall that at that discussion, it was agreed that Jonathan would serve only one term of four years and we all signed the agreement. Even when Jonathan went to Kampala, in Uganda, he also said he was going to serve a single term.”

Yesterday, attempts to get Governor Aliyu to elaborate on the nature of the agreement were not successful as it emerged that the governor had decided to shut himself away from further comments on the issue. It was learnt that he had strictly instructed aides and associates not to further discuss the issue.

Matter of honour

Meanwhile, Alhaji Yakassi, who was Special Adviser to President Shehu Shagari on National Assembly matters and was also a leading member of the NPLF, the northern group that championed a northern presidential candidate told Vanguard yesterday that following the PDP primaries efforts to get the president to agree to serve a single term did not break through.

Claiming ignorance of the alleged agreement with northern governors, Yakassi said it would be a matter of honour for the president, if he ever entered into such an agreement, for him to honour it.
http://247ureports.com/2015-president-made-no-single-term-promise-kanti-bello-2/

Is it not the same Tom Ikimi during the Abatcha government,i don't think people of his likes have any good thing to offer...

The mystery over President Goodluck Jonathan’s alleged agreement with northern governors of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2011 not to contest the 2015 presidential election deepened, yesterday.

Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, who blew the lid on the issue, it was learnt, had warned his close associates and top aides not to comment on the matter. It was also learnt yesterday, that the governor may have been mandated to make the revelation on behalf of northern governors. Governor Aliyu is chairman of Northern Governors Forum.

2015-cartoon

Alhaji Tanko Yakassi, one of the leading members of the Northern Political Leaders Forum, NPLF, told Vanguard, yesterday, that an attempt by the forum to get the president to concede the 2015 presidential ticket to the north failed after two meetings.

Yakassi’s assertion, nonetheless, other northern opinion leaders, yesterday, pointed to President Olusegun Obasanjo’s claim on the final day of PDP campaigns where he was quoted as saying that President Jonathan would serve one term.

President’s supporters disparage claims

Supporters of the president last night disparaged the claims. Mr. Joe Ambakaderemo, national coordinator of South-South Elements Progressive Union, SSEPU, described the existence of the agreement as inconceivable, outlandish and myopic, saying Aliyu should wait till 2019 to realise his ambition.

Governor Aliyu had, in a radio interview on Saturday, claimed that the president reached an agreement not to contest the 2015 presidential election.

He said: “I recall that at the time he was going to declare for the 2011 election, all PDP governors were brought together to ensure that we were all in the same frame of mind.

“And I recall that some of us said that, given the circumstances of the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua and given the PDP zoning arrangement, it was expected that the North was to produce the president for a given number of years.

“I recall that at that discussion, it was agreed that Jonathan would serve only one term of four years and we all signed the agreement. Even when Jonathan went to Kampala, in Uganda, he also said he was going to serve a single term.”

Yesterday, attempts to get Governor Aliyu to elaborate on the nature of the agreement were not successful as it emerged that the governor had decided to shut himself away from further comments on the issue. It was learnt that he had strictly instructed aides and associates not to further discuss the issue.

Matter of honour

Meanwhile, Alhaji Yakassi, who was Special Adviser to President Shehu Shagari on National Assembly matters and was also a leading member of the NPLF, the northern group that championed a northern presidential candidate told Vanguard yesterday that following the PDP primaries efforts to get the president to agree to serve a single term did not break through.

Claiming ignorance of the alleged agreement with northern governors, Yakassi said it would be a matter of honour for the president, if he ever entered into such an agreement, for him to honour it.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/02/2015-jonathan-didnt-sign-agreement-yakassai/

Its so heartbreaking, you just keep wondering the kind of evil heart that some bad eggs in the society have,we must all rise against such evil people

Demdem: Come to think of it, before retardeen increased fuel price i was paying less to fuel my generators and also paying less to NEPA.
Now with just an average of additional 1Hr power improvement every three days, i pay three times than before to Nepa and i also pay more to fuel my generators because the retardeen has increased the fuel price. Surely, i prefer the old days than current days. We are paying much more for little or negligible improvement. Thats robbery.

I like the little or negligible improvement used in your post at least its a stepping stone

To call that documentary as hypocrisy is an understatement, it was a completely wrong comparison,its an open secret that power has improved in places around the country, though we still have a long way to go but there is a glimmer of hope let's keep our fingers crossed for the better,i believe that one day it will be history especially with the power reform in place.

pro01: Considering the 'grievous' nature of these sins, what manner of "justice" would you propose GEJ faces?

If you ask me, I'd suggest he should be condemned to a term of four extra years in Aso Rock prison when his current term expires 2015.

Gbam!

Wow, this is a wonderful piece, our problem in Naija is that we like throwing the baby and the bath water..If that is GEJ's crime i join in condemning him,he must face justice for these sins...

I wish i could keep mute,but linking politics with people's believes is unpardonable,as much as most Nigerians have flaws, everyone believes in something.We are all witnesses on how religion has created mutual suspicion in the heterogeneous NIGERIA,the likes of El rufai must be rebuked at all cost for us to have a peaceful society,any attempt to justice the actions of El rufai is clear cut bigotry, he must live with the consequences of his actions.

The political apology of El rufai doesn't hold water,he dare not make a mistake of misspelling the name of prophet Mohammed (SAW, i could remember the THIS DAY Journey was issued a FATWA for her write up in 2002 for a harmless statement over the miss world beauty Pageant,many lives were lost for just a statement, but today EL rufai joked abt a highly revered deity ans some shallow minded people are seeing nothing wrong in the that statement...as far as i am concern he hasn't apologized since he is still blaming Zebook, i wonder whether Zebook forced him to retweet and make a comment..so sad all i know is that El rufai is a religious bigot.

It shows how some criminals are looking for cheap popularity, that's why i didn't loose sleep when i saw the nonsense that Anzizi wrote in the first place,abeg make i go read my books exams is at hand...

ocman: AND THE MAN WHO STOLE 24BILLION FROM POLICE PENSION IS FREE ABI? NIGERIAN IS A FAILED STATE

Are you justifying their evil acts...a crime is a crime no matter how small it may be..

Well done Secret Police for this feat,it goes a long way to show how active and efficient in spite of the security challenges in the country.They should charge them to court to face the full wrath of the law,we are tired of these bad eggs who indulge in any crime to get money....

fkaz: What do you have to say about nigerian commendian(okey bakassi e t c ) who jokingly use jesus and god.

Please let leave politics aside, most people swear in the name of god in vain and it doesn't make headline.

A wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it and a right is a right even when no one is doing it...

[i][/i]

fkaz: if el-rufia hate christains did jonathan like christains?

OP get the issue right...Has GEJ joked with Prophet Mohammed (SAW) or Jesus Christ?wake up...

Countryman93: Theres urgent need for a common sense vaccination for we nigerians to begin to fish out the conspiracy theories in our politics . Theres a saying that to whom a brain is given sense is expected. I know that after reading the things i will drop here, thousands of folks will kill me with different labels. No wahala that is the cross of good conscience and right judgement away from general public feelings and ill conceived perception.

Mallam Elrufai deceived madam skin punk Ezekwesili to enter an ill fated accountability battle with the FG with promise of VP Slot come 2015 insha allah.Now she's locked in a battle that will gradually become her undoing. The same Elrufai that confiscated lands and even allocated some to his friend in deceit (skin punk oby) with which she gave her so called pastor husband to erect a monumental church in Abuja.

But after the storm settles about her fictitious rantling, the question remains; what happened to the huge education funds she collected within 7 months? (not to mention the funds she collected in Solid minerals Ministry)

let the acclaimed madam due process set herself as example by accounting to Nigerians first. let me mention that truly she"s one of the few folks that have made us proud but she has soiled her reputation by becoming a politician. She has joined Soludo in ignominy. As for Elrufai, he is locked in a deadly battle with the Holy Spirit in an attempt to defend his purported running mate come 2015 insha allah from allegation of misappropriation of huge education funds in 7 months.

I hate it when folks begin to run their mouth as soon as they vacate office and are not recalled. No Nigerian is indispensable no matter ur proffessorial majesty. Oby Ezekwesili and her ilk pride themselves as indispensable and the only knowledgable people with the magic wand to change Nigeria. And even more annoying is that they wear a fake garment of religious piety after contributing to our problems. the Onus is on nigerians to shine their eyes to all this ongoing deceit of the public for fame and power.

how many times did she engage in debate when she was minister? she should not worry when Maku leaves office she should come for debate then she will receive the rudest shock of her life that she's been overrating her self.

Elrufai has been caught in his web of evil hatred and deceit. Tribute to the dying Elrufai hausa fulani dynasty; FROM DIVIDE AND RULE to DECEIVE AND RULE? no way. not this time and age my people. This is not about GEJ its about rescuing the people from Men and women of Evil venom in beautiful disguise. Nigeria must and will be freed in the midst of fake apostles of change and accountability. Nonsense!

Wow, this is another dimension to the matter,it still boils down to desperation and despair, in life i believe people that are losers and sinking always find excuses in painting others black in order to score cheap points.The likes are of El rufai and EZekwesili are just looking for ways to be relevant to the extend that they are now using the religious card to gain credence. Oby Ezekwesili whose husband is a Pastor would also have known that using a sacred Deity like Jesus Christ to compare government officials is not acceptable.They should focus on people's good sides and not always looking for lopholes which they themselves also created while in office.

banki: i wonder what why we didnt open a thread on @zeebok the original poster

Nobody recognizes him...

Nora okon: El-rufai showed the whole world how irresponsible he is. I just imagined what would have happened had this statement vice versa come from a christian.am just suprised that his ally,pastor Bakare kept mute over this.

I am just wondering how irresponsible El rufai has become,if i were to be in the government i would have arrested him for incitement,how can you for goodness sake laugh over an issue like for political gain...its so sad and portrays him as an unpatriotic Nigerian..

well done boys you are just making us proud,more of this...

This is really pathetic and heartbreaking,the police is like a leopard who hardly changes its skin.

The last has not been heard of the so many "wonders" of the Nigeria Police Force,even with the new code of conduct launched yesterday by the VP on bhalf of GEJ,a bad coincidence u may say.This is an eye witness account,just yesterday a police Corporal Emmanuel Agbe shot one Chukwuma Harris,a taxi driver at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport,simply because the driver refused to give him #300 as bribe out of the #500 tip he collected from the passenger.At present Chukwuma is in a critical condition at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital while the trigger happy Corporal Emmanuel Abge has been detained at the beesam police station close to Murtala Mohammed International Airport.The question is,will the code of conduct have any impact on the police?Can somebody help me out?

The Mallam is so broke and hungry to the extend that he has resorted to blackmail as his means of livelihood,who would have known El rufai if not for OBJ?this book is a sour gripe from a bitter man whose popularity is weaning daily.

The police need a total overhauling,maybe the new code of conduct will help check their excesses cos they are really folding our arms.

ypzilanti: ...how many times does a man have to kill a lion before he is called a 'Lion Killer?'

Check previous promises, to determine what the outcome of latest promise will be.

We must admit that there is a great improvement,we must give them the benefit of doubt.

I can see some people on this platform who don"t want good things to happen to Nigeria,cant"t we be optimistic for ones?there is no way our leaders can succeed if we dont support them...As for me i will pray to see the change in the power sector.

What kind of Police Force do we have in this country?They keep embarrassing us everyday,you will even loose count of the people who have ran away from police custody,i think they need complete overhauling,this is a big shame.

This is a step in the right direction...kudos to the FG